By Jared Bowen
Jung Chang's bestselling memior, Wild Swans, about her family’s survival during much of 20th century China’s upheaval, is finally adapted for performance.

China: Through My Eyes

Epilogue: Traveling Home, Reflecting on Our Experiences

In the final episode, Ava and Sofie reflect on their experiences on the other side of the world as they make the long journey back via Vancouver, B.C. Their world has certainly become larger, now that they have traveled so far from home. How has their journey changed them? The girls look back on their questions and expectations at the adventure’s beginning. How did China surprise them? How has their adventure expanded their world? What ideas, goals, and questions have they brought home with them? What were their favorite parts? What will they never forget? And where would they like to visit next?

China: Through My Eyes

Macau: Visiting the Temple of a Goddess and a Maritime Museum

In episode twelve, Sofie and Ava seek out the goddess A-Ma, or Matsu, believed to be the namesake of Macau. The girls visit the A-Ma Temple, one of the oldest and most famous Taoist temples in existence, built in 1488 to honor this important goddess of fishermen and seafarers. Ava compares and contrasts her experiences in theater classes back home as the girls take in a bit of traditional Chinese opera in an outdoor theater. Later, they try out a real rickshaw, then learn more about the goddess A-Ma at the nearby Macau Maritime Museum, filled with models of vessels, examples of local traditional costumes and fishing techniques, a small theater telling the story of the goddess A-Ma with moving dioramas, and even an aquarium.

China: Through My Eyes

Easter at the Macau Tower

In the eleventh episode, Ava and Sofie spend Easter Sunday at the Macau Tower, the 1,109-foot tall place to be for panoramic views of Macau and the surrounding waters. They stroll across dizzying clear observation panels in the floor as daredevils plummet past, enjoying one of the highest commercial skyjumps on earth. Later, while decorating plastic Easter eggs at a table provided by the Macau Tower Entertainment Centre for visiting children, the girls are spirited away to take part in a dance competition, in which they must bridge a language barrier as they try to follow the moves of a cowgirl-clad dance instructor. Yee-haw! That’s Easter in Macau!

China: Through My Eyes

Guangzhou: Visiting A Chinese Zoo

In the ninth episode, the girls climb into another Chinese taxi and travel with a guide to the Chime Long Xiangjiang Safari Park, the largest animal park in Asia and home to over 20,000 animals, including giant pandas and over half the world’s population of white tigers. A visit to the tiger cub nursery with litters of gamboling striped babies is an experience that will never be forgotten. Sofie and Ava view creatures from around the world from the Safari Train, winding ever-closer to the piece de resistance, the bamboo-munching giant panda, animal ambassador from China to the United States since pandas Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing were given to the U.S. by the Chinese government in 1972 following President Nixon’s historic visit to China, a bit of history as ancient to the girls as China’s gift of pandas to Japan in the Tang Dynasty.

China: Through My Eyes

Guangzhou: Exploring a Park and Historic Cemetery

In episode eight, Ava and Sofie visit the Guangzhou Museum, located within the Zhenhai Tower, also known as the Five-Story Pagoda and originally built in 1380, in the heart of Guangzhou’s Yuexiu Park. The girls have fun with a three-dimensional model of modern day Guangzhou, make their own unique child’s-eye observations on 2,000 years of Chinese history, and enjoy a view of the city from the fifth floor balcony. In a hillside park, Ava, a violin student back home, observes a musician playing a similar-looking traditional Chinese stringed instrument in an outdoor performance. A journey to an historic cemetery where European travelers of long ago are buried offers the girls a chance to reflect upon their own adventures far from home while climbing among flowers and monuments in a lush green setting.

China: Through My Eyes

Guangzhou: A Trip by Train, Dinner with New Friends

In the seventh episode, Sofie and Ava board a train for the 75-mile journey to Guangzhou, Southern China’s largest city. Entering Mainland China for the first time, they notice how it differs from Hong Kong and how things compare to their familiar surroundings back home in the United States. Here, drivers sit on the left side of the car and cars drive on the left side of the road, just like back home. How confusing — after several days in Hong Kong, they had just become used to the right side! After settling into their new home base, complete with a view of the Canton Tower, the girls enjoy a Chinese meal with new friends.

China: Through My Eyes

Hong Kong: Victoria Peak and a Beach Day in China

In episode six, Ava and Sofie take a steep ride up the historic Peak Tram to the top of Hong Kong’s Victoria Peak, the highest point on the island, at over 1,800 feet. After enjoying panoramic views of the city they have spent several days exploring, they return to sea level, cooling their toes in the South China Sea at an Aberdeen beach. Does the beach remind them of their seaside homes on Cape Cod? How is it different?

China: Through My Eyes

Hong Kong: Exploring Tai O and Aberdeen

In the fifth episode, the girls journey by bus to Tai O, a fishing village on the western side of Lantau Island. Here Sofie and Ava let off some steam playing alongside fishing boats, practice some moves at a Shaolin Temple, hunt through the village market and learn about the city’s long relationship with the sea as they explore the Hong Kong Maritime Museum.

China: Through My Eyes

Macau: A Journey by Bus and Exploring

In episode ten, Sofie and Ava travel by bus over the farmland of southern China bound for Macau, a former Portuguese colony with a fascinating mix of cultures. How does this place look, sound, smell and taste different from Hong Kong? From Guangzhou? From home? The girls take a long hike through the streets and parks of Macau, noticing the colorful Portuguese architecture, black and white tiled streets and a swirl of tourists from around the world. They take to a cable car, taxis and their feet to explore this unique destination filled with natural beauty, historic ruins, public square teeming with people, tiny shops in winding streets and a casino district which lights up the night sky.

China: Through My Eyes

In episode four of this WGBH travel and history series for kids, Ava and Sofie go on a scenic Hong Kong ferry ride to meet Castor and Pollux, a brother and sister, and their family for a Sunday lunch, Hong Kong style.

Maria Hinojosa: One-On-One

Jennifer 8. Lee is a former staff writer for TheNew York Times and author of The Fortune Cookie Chronicles. In this conversation with María Hinojosa, she shares stories about growing up Chinese American in New York and the roots of “Chinese” food in America.